About the 101 Wild West Rodeo

Dates for the 101 Wild West Rodeo this year will be June 6th thru June 8th, with performances at 8 p.m. nightly.

The 101 Wild West Rodeo will be held at the 101 Ranch Rodeo Arena, located on West Prospect avenue at North Ash Street.

The 2019 Rodeo will mark the 60th running of the rodeo honoring what historians have described as the birthplace of rodeo - the once mighty 101 Ranch. The fabulous 101 Ranch, with a 50-year history both rich and tragic, influenced Oklahoma and agriculture like no other ranching operation in the world. The 101 Ranch, established by Col. George W. Miller in 1879 on the banks of the Salt Fork River southwest of what is now Ponca City, began with thousands of acres of land which Miller both leased and purchased from his friends - the Ponca, Tonkawa and Osage tribes.

The Colonel, who died in 1903 at the age of 61, and the ranch, which was already successful came into the capable hands of his sons, George, Joe and Zack. It was 1905 when the Millers offered to perform what they called a "round-up" or "buffalo chase" as an entertainment for a National Editorial Association convention. Visitors were said to come to the ranch in 30 regular and special trains, and the crowd estimated at nearly 60,000 was thrilled to the exhibition of cowboys recreating real life ranch work from bronc riding and roping to Tom Mix's debut as a roper and rider.

After years of success as the "101 Ranch Real Wild West and Great Far East Show" things at the ranch began to crumble in the late 1920s, due to the deaths of Joe in 1927 and George in 1929.

But the rodeo returned to the Ponca City scene, when the Ponca City Cherokee Strip Rodeo Committee came up with the idea of having a rodeo during the Cherokee Strip Celebration in September 1960. By 1962 the financial success of the Cherokee Strip Rodeo proved that people wanted the return of a show similar to the 101 Ranch Wild West Show. The present bleachers were constructed in 1962; however additional improvement in chute heaven, the press box, and the new left & right release chutes have made the rodeo arena a top notch attraction.

The Ponca City Rodeo Foundation headed by Larry Goodno, in his fifteenth year as president, contracts with a number of interesting one act exhibitions for the three-night stand. Other foundation officers include Raymond Ball as vice president; Kacey Calhoun as secretary and Sarah Troutman as treasurer.

Are you tough enough to wear pink? The 101 Wild West Rodeo will continue the tradition with the implementation of a Tough Enough To Wear Pink? Night. Thursday evening's performance will be designated as "Pink Night".

The color pink is not something you would usually associate with the tough sport of rodeo; however, breast cancer has touched the lives of many rodeo and western lifestyle families. Rodeo committees, western event producers and western manufacturers have joined together to raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer.

The TETWP campaign puts this important health issue top-of-mind at rodeos and western events across America and Canada. The Ponca City Rodeo Foundation which organizes and puts on the 101 Wild West Rodeo is pleased to join those who have already gotten behind this campaign and the momentum continues to build. At Thursday's performance, the foundation will give $1 for each person in the audience who is wearing pink and $50 for each event winner who is wearing pink to the Breast Cancer Assistance Program Fund out of Tulsa.

Thursday will also be Community Appreciation night come out early and enjoy a free barbeque dinner with ticket purchase from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on the east-side of the rodeo grounds.

There will be a live concert and dance immediately following each night's Rodeo Performance on the east-side of the arena. Meet the cowboys & contract personnel, visit with some old friends or maybe make some new ones.

Back again to the rodeo this year and sure to be a crowd pleaser is the 101 Women's Drill and Grand Entry Team. This array of talented and spirited women is kicking off the grand entry each night. They will be displaying talented horsemanship in flag bearing and synchronized routines.

Garrett Yerigan will be making his third appearance to the Ponca City rodeo scene as announcer, providing exciting and entertaining commentary.

This year's rodeo is again being produced by Andrew's Rodeo Company of Addielou, Texas, promises to be greater than ever with an excellent lineup of contestants, specialty acts, bull fighters, and stock. Andrew's Rodeo Company has become quite popular with the rodeo associations and cowboys, providing stock for a three-night plus slack rodeo. Andrew’s ability to produce quality stock is well noted with 1999 Hall of Fame Bucking Bull, BODACIOUS, with 135 outs and only 8 qualified rides. Bodacious won Bucking Bull of the Year 1994, 1995, and Bucking Bull of the NFR 1992, 1994, and 1995. Son of Bodacious, Bo Dipping, began taking the spotlight in the Rodeo Circuit. He was awarded Rankest Bull Summer Finals in Dallas 2001 and 2002. Sports Illustrated followed his career with an article in June 2003. Ft. Worth Star Telegram and Dallas Morning News visited the Andrews Ranch summer 2003 publishing a full-page article on Sammy and BoDipping. In 2004, Outdoor Life visited the Andrews Ranch and aired a documentary called FEARLESS BODACIOUS. Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show honored Sammy during the year 2004 awarding him with a bucking chute to use as a memorial for Bo’s grave. ESPN has recently visited the Andrews Ranch and aired an insert of Sammy and Bodacious throughout the telecast of the 2005 NFR displaying the much-appreciated bucking chute.

The bull riders won’t be the only brave souls in the arena at the 101 Wild West Rodeo this year, serving as Barrelman this year will be Justin “Rumpshaker” Rumford, with a 2000-pound bull bearing down on you, it helps to have a sense of humor. It also helps to have a barrel to hide in. The only difference between Justin Rumford and a stand-up comedian, is that he’s doing his job from the middle of a rodeo arena instead of a stage with a spotlight. His job during the rodeo is twofold. He provides the laughs and banters with the announcer. But during the bull riding his more dangerous job begins. Rumford is a barrelman: the cowboy who works the barrel, providing an oasis of safety for bullfighters and bull riders, in case an angry bull decides to chase them.

Returning this year as Bullfighter is Nathan Harp. Nathan says the best part about bull fighting is the adrenaline rush and helping guys out. "The bull riders are always walking up to me and saying, 'you're crazy.'" Nathan disagrees with them. "No, they're the crazy ones. They're tied to the bulls. I'm just out there having fun." Joining Harp again this year will be Bullfighter Cody Emerson. Many may think that being a bull fighter is just pure crazy but Emerson says that there is no better feeling. “Yes, it is an adrenaline rush, but there’s so much more to it. Stepping in to save one of your buddies or getting around a bull and keeping everyone from getting in a jam is the best feeling,” he says.

Back by popular demand is The One-Armed Bandit & Company, featuring Miss Amanda Jane Payne…..A.K.A. the pretty one... But don’t let your guard down around her... as she can be just as captivating as the men in her gang. She quickly picked up on the cowboy lifestyle. She started riding horses at a very early age picking up on the tricks and trades of the bandit lifestyle she broke out in 1997 when she was 18 years old traveling back and forth the united states. But don’t let her smile fool you, she is the only woman to have ever attempted to follow the Bandit’s footsteps and might just be the only one to put the Bandit in his place. She can handle two bull whips quite well and her cur head dogs are always watching you…If you’re lucky you might just get a glimpse of her.

"Rodeo Week" in Ponca City is celebrated with several exciting activities in the Ponca City areas including a parade downtown along Grand Avenue on Saturday morning. The parade which starts at 10 a.m. is immediately followed by the annual Kids Rodeo held in front of the Ponca City Library located at the east end of Grand Avenue. The Kids Rodeo has become an exciting tradition of the parade offering kids the opportunity to visit rodeo clowns, and get up close to rodeo affiliated livestock. Horse rides, goat tail tying, and stick horse barrel races are just a sample of the fun activities slated for the kids.

The Ponca City Rodeo Foundation, its 16 board members, and numerous supporters, invites everyone to attend this year's rodeo. "Family Night" is Thursday with adults just $12 in advance, $15 at the gate, & kids ages 12 & under FREE. Friday and Saturday performances are adults just $12 in advance, $15 at the gate, kids ages 7-12 $5, & kids ages 6 & under FREE, or buy a weekend pass and enjoy all 3 nights for $25. Advanced tickets can be found at select local businesses.